On Price Stability and Welfare

On Price Stability and Welfare

Author: Mr.Etienne B. Yehoue

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2012-07-01

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 147550537X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The financial crisis in the advanced countries that began in 2007 has led central bankers to adopt unconventional policy measures as policy interest rates neared the zero bound. One suggestion (Blanchard, Dell’Ariccia, and Mauro, 2010) has been to raise inflation targets to provide more room for policy rate easing during crises. This paper addresses a different issue: the relationship between inflation and welfare. The literature is surveyed and a model is developed. A key conclusion is that an increase in inflation targets gives rise to additional welfare costs, even after the extra room to maneuver above the zero lower bound for nominal policy rates is taken into account. Based on parameter values that fit U.S. data, the additional welfare costs of raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 percent are estimated at about 0.3 percent of annual real income. A rise to 10 percent would yield additional welfare costs of about 1 percent of real income. Other parameter values yield welfare costs as high as 7 (respectively 30) percent of real income for raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 (respectively from 2 to 10) percent. The full costs of raising inflation targets are likely to be higher because the model used to generate these estimates does not account for higher inflation-induced volatility.


Book Synopsis On Price Stability and Welfare by : Mr.Etienne B. Yehoue

Download or read book On Price Stability and Welfare written by Mr.Etienne B. Yehoue and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2012-07-01 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The financial crisis in the advanced countries that began in 2007 has led central bankers to adopt unconventional policy measures as policy interest rates neared the zero bound. One suggestion (Blanchard, Dell’Ariccia, and Mauro, 2010) has been to raise inflation targets to provide more room for policy rate easing during crises. This paper addresses a different issue: the relationship between inflation and welfare. The literature is surveyed and a model is developed. A key conclusion is that an increase in inflation targets gives rise to additional welfare costs, even after the extra room to maneuver above the zero lower bound for nominal policy rates is taken into account. Based on parameter values that fit U.S. data, the additional welfare costs of raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 percent are estimated at about 0.3 percent of annual real income. A rise to 10 percent would yield additional welfare costs of about 1 percent of real income. Other parameter values yield welfare costs as high as 7 (respectively 30) percent of real income for raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 (respectively from 2 to 10) percent. The full costs of raising inflation targets are likely to be higher because the model used to generate these estimates does not account for higher inflation-induced volatility.


Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation

Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation

Author: Mr.Howell H. Zee

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 1998-08-01

Total Pages: 22

ISBN-13: 1451853440

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This paper provides general equilibrium estimates of the steady-state welfare gains of lowering inflation from a low level to close to price stability, using an overlapping-generations growth model. Money demand is modeled on the basis that real money balances are a factor of production. Assuming a standard Fisher equation modified by the presence of an income tax, it is found that inflation unambiguously reduces capital intensity, drives up the before-tax real rate of return to capital, and unambiguously imposes a life-time welfare cost. This welfare cost is, however, quantitatively very modest (under 0.2 percent of GDP annually) within reasonable ranges of all parameter values.


Book Synopsis Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation by : Mr.Howell H. Zee

Download or read book Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation written by Mr.Howell H. Zee and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 1998-08-01 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper provides general equilibrium estimates of the steady-state welfare gains of lowering inflation from a low level to close to price stability, using an overlapping-generations growth model. Money demand is modeled on the basis that real money balances are a factor of production. Assuming a standard Fisher equation modified by the presence of an income tax, it is found that inflation unambiguously reduces capital intensity, drives up the before-tax real rate of return to capital, and unambiguously imposes a life-time welfare cost. This welfare cost is, however, quantitatively very modest (under 0.2 percent of GDP annually) within reasonable ranges of all parameter values.


Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation

Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation

Author: Mr.Jose De Gregorio

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 1991-01-01

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13: 145193128X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This paper examines the welfare effects of mitigating the costs of inflation. In a simple model where money reduces transaction costs, a fall in the costs of inflation is equivalent to financial innovation. This can be caused by paying interest on deposits, indexing money, or “dollarizing.” Results indicate that financial innovation raises welfare in low inflation economies while reducing it in high inflation economies, due to the offsetting indirect effect of higher inflation to finance the budget.


Book Synopsis Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation by : Mr.Jose De Gregorio

Download or read book Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation written by Mr.Jose De Gregorio and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 1991-01-01 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper examines the welfare effects of mitigating the costs of inflation. In a simple model where money reduces transaction costs, a fall in the costs of inflation is equivalent to financial innovation. This can be caused by paying interest on deposits, indexing money, or “dollarizing.” Results indicate that financial innovation raises welfare in low inflation economies while reducing it in high inflation economies, due to the offsetting indirect effect of higher inflation to finance the budget.


Wages, Welfare Costs, and Inflation in Classical Athens

Wages, Welfare Costs, and Inflation in Classical Athens

Author: William T. Loomis

Publisher: University of Michigan Press

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 9780472108039

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A seminal reference and analysis of wages and costs in Athens


Book Synopsis Wages, Welfare Costs, and Inflation in Classical Athens by : William T. Loomis

Download or read book Wages, Welfare Costs, and Inflation in Classical Athens written by William T. Loomis and published by University of Michigan Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A seminal reference and analysis of wages and costs in Athens


The Welfare Effects of Inflation

The Welfare Effects of Inflation

Author: Karl-Heinz Tödter

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783865583666

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis The Welfare Effects of Inflation by : Karl-Heinz Tödter

Download or read book The Welfare Effects of Inflation written by Karl-Heinz Tödter and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Inflation and Welfare

Inflation and Welfare

Author: Hans-Werner Sinn

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Inflation and Welfare by : Hans-Werner Sinn

Download or read book Inflation and Welfare written by Hans-Werner Sinn and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Welfare, Freedom, and Inflation

Welfare, Freedom, and Inflation

Author: Wilhelm Röpke

Publisher:

Published: 1957

Total Pages: 88

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Welfare, Freedom, and Inflation by : Wilhelm Röpke

Download or read book Welfare, Freedom, and Inflation written by Wilhelm Röpke and published by . This book was released on 1957 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


The Welfare Effects of Inflation

The Welfare Effects of Inflation

Author: Karl-Heinz Tödter

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 72

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This paper reviews theory and evidence of the welfare effects of inflation from a costbenefit perspective. Basic models and selected empirical results are discussed. Historically, in assessing the welfare effects of inflation, the distortion of money demand played a prominent role. More recently, interactions of inflation and taxation came into focus. Growth effects of inflation as well as welfare effects of unanticipated inflation and of inflation uncertainty are also addressed. To assess the policy question whether inflation should be reduced or eliminated, the costs of disinflation play a role. Finally, the trade-off between the benefits of reducing inflation and the costs of disinflation is discussed and an overall assessment of the net welfare effects of achieving price stability is provided.


Book Synopsis The Welfare Effects of Inflation by : Karl-Heinz Tödter

Download or read book The Welfare Effects of Inflation written by Karl-Heinz Tödter and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper reviews theory and evidence of the welfare effects of inflation from a costbenefit perspective. Basic models and selected empirical results are discussed. Historically, in assessing the welfare effects of inflation, the distortion of money demand played a prominent role. More recently, interactions of inflation and taxation came into focus. Growth effects of inflation as well as welfare effects of unanticipated inflation and of inflation uncertainty are also addressed. To assess the policy question whether inflation should be reduced or eliminated, the costs of disinflation play a role. Finally, the trade-off between the benefits of reducing inflation and the costs of disinflation is discussed and an overall assessment of the net welfare effects of achieving price stability is provided.


Monetary Theory as a Basis for Monetary Policy

Monetary Theory as a Basis for Monetary Policy

Author: A. Leijonhufvud

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Published: 2001-08-08

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 9780333748923

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Since the inflationary 1970s, theoretical work on monetary policy has concentrated almost exclusively on price-level stabilization and the avoidance of nominal shocks. In the aftermath of the collapse of financial bubbles in various parts of the world, the accomplishments and limitations of this dominant approach are debated in this volume edited by Axel Leijonhufvud, with contributions by a number of noted monetary economists, including Nobel Laureate Robert Lucas.


Book Synopsis Monetary Theory as a Basis for Monetary Policy by : A. Leijonhufvud

Download or read book Monetary Theory as a Basis for Monetary Policy written by A. Leijonhufvud and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 2001-08-08 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the inflationary 1970s, theoretical work on monetary policy has concentrated almost exclusively on price-level stabilization and the avoidance of nominal shocks. In the aftermath of the collapse of financial bubbles in various parts of the world, the accomplishments and limitations of this dominant approach are debated in this volume edited by Axel Leijonhufvud, with contributions by a number of noted monetary economists, including Nobel Laureate Robert Lucas.


Inflation

Inflation

Author: John Fender

Publisher:

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 9780472094530

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Provides both an original analysis of the costs, causes, and consequences of inflation and a clear, informed review of our present knowledge.


Book Synopsis Inflation by : John Fender

Download or read book Inflation written by John Fender and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides both an original analysis of the costs, causes, and consequences of inflation and a clear, informed review of our present knowledge.